Clarity given following reports on positive Covid-19 cases at Rotherham United

The governing body revealed in a statement on Wednesday that 25 ‘positive cases’ were returned from one EFL club - without naming the particular one in question but widely acknowledged to be Rotherham - following results from the latest round of testing.

The statement read: “The EFL can confirm that a total of 5533 players and club staff from all 72 EFL clubs were tested as part of last week’s testing programme, with 25 positive cases returned.

“A twice-weekly COVID-19 mandatory testing programme is now in place for all 72 clubs, with today’s results covering all tests undertaken from Monday 8 to Sunday 14 March.

“71 EFL clubs returned zero positive tests over this period.

“Players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate in line with latest Government guidance.”

It is understood that the number may have referred to positive tests as opposed to the number of individuals actually involved.

Warne, who is currently the only member of the club’s staff and players to be currently self-isolating, said: "There haven't been more than 20 individual cases involving players and first-team staff.

"I'm the only one still self-isolating. Everyone else is through it.

Trevor Clarke and Lewis Wing returned to training today (Thursday) to boost the Millers’ options for the weekend trip to Bristol City and both could be involved.

Warne says that, as it stands, he will not risk midfielder Ben Wiles (hamstring) at the weekend.

The Millers boss: “His (Wiles’s) hamstring tightened up. Yesterday (Wednesday), it looked really confident that he would still be available for selection on Saturday.

“But we will have another look at him as I don’t want to play him and then have him out for three or four weeks.

“I will double-check tomorrow (Friday), but as I talk now at this time, I don’t think he will start.

“Trevor Clarke and Wingy both trained and they should be available for selection as long as they don’t have a massive slump.

“When you think about the players coming back to suddenly have to play an elite game of football, it is a big ask and to hit so many of ours has been a big blow.

“Hopefully, the worst is behind us now and we can look forward to the game on Saturday, however that goes and then we have got two weeks to really prepare the lads for the biggest month of the season for us and that is where all our focus is on really.”